striped song of the Day A regular feature showcasing the music currently stuck in our heads. Each week, contributors will piece together their daily picks, and a playlist of the week’s tracks will be available on Fridays.
The Rolling Stones are an S tier band. From their 1964 cover of Buddy Holly’s “Not Fade Away” to 1978’s “Beast of Burden,” their singles may be the greatest any rock band has ever played. But even their biggest fans have to admit, they aren’t the best as albums.
beggars banquet, let it Bleed And sticky Fingers It’s got tons of classic tracks, but they all have songs that you’ll skip the second listen. And, if we’re being particularly harsh, they feel less like coherent musical statements than the last 10 songs the band finished.
then why is exile on Main Street My favorite of his albums? It’s 68 minutes long, the worst yet in terms of filler quality and quantity, and sounds like it was recorded through two tin cans tied together by string.
But none of this really bothers me. In fact, I love meaty production. It adds to that buoyant, immediate feel that infuses the entire album. Like the Stones just fooling around and tearing through a show’s worth of songs in their spare time with some friends.
And they all go in different directions on album work, too. The Stones are London freaks who grew up on jazz, blues and rock ‘n’ roll. Of course they love organ, sax and gospel singers. And when they add them to their hard rock sound, it feels rootsy without ever feeling stagnant.
‘Sweet Virginia’ is the culmination of that idea. It’s a straight-up country track. The guitar that starts the song can be ripped directly from the hymn. But when the harmonica comes on, he strips it down to The Stones’ characteristic grit and grime. Second guitar and boot-thumping percussion push it back to country before Jagger’s polite, slightly off-tune drawl brings it back. The sax adds class and the church adds to the joy of a good sing-along.
The whole song has the feel of a band tuning in at the beginning of practice or before going to bed.
It’s good either way.